Ottawa officially sprung forward this past weekend, and while losing an hour of sleep is never fun, the trade-off is very much worth it.
At 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 8, clocks across Ontario moved forward one hour as daylight saving time (DST) began. That means Ottawa now gets significantly more light in the evenings, a welcome shift as the city shakes off the last of winter.
What Changes
The practical impact: sunsets that were happening around 6:00 p.m. in late February will now push toward 7:30 p.m. and beyond as March and April progress. For anyone who's been leaving work in the dark, that change is hard to overstate.
Morning commutes will be darker again for a few weeks, but most Ottawans, especially those with kids, dogs, or an interest in patios, will take that deal without hesitation.
Ottawa's Spring Transition
For Ottawa, DST also marks a psychological shift. The city has had a long, grey winter, and longer evenings are one of the first real signs that spring is coming. Expect to see more people out on the Rideau Canal pathways, in Gatineau Park, and on restaurant and bar patios as the daylight hours extend through March and into April.
Will DST Ever End?
The debate over eliminating daylight saving time continues across North America. Ontario has passed legislation to make DST permanent, eliminating the twice-yearly clock change, but the province is waiting on Quebec and New York State to align before implementing it. For now, the clock change stays.
Until then: check your clocks, enjoy the extra light, and maybe go to bed a little earlier tonight.
Source: @shottawa.tv on Instagram
